Omaha daily bee., 1887-02-07
THE WHITE RIVER WRECK.
Later Particulars Of the Accident on
the Vermont CCntrnl.

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT, Feb. r.
Probably 5000 persons visited the scene of
the railroad accident to-day. Seven or eight
bodies We're to-day identified and many heart
fending scenes were witnessed. Ii is ut
terly impossible to identity more than ten or
twelve OF those recovered, the clothing being
entirely gone and the bodies burned to n crisp.
Conductor SturdGvant died to-day and his
body was taken home by a special train. The
damage to rolling stock is estimated at
$4,000. The work of recovering the bodies
has been pushed vigorously all day.
The total number OF bodies recovered to day
is livc-one woman and four men. With
these the number recovered thus far is thirty
two. 1t is now believed that the total num-
Der of souls on board the i'll fatcd train was
rfghty-one. OF this number only four are
unaccounted for. Little idea can be formed
of the difficulty in the way OF
obtaining the report of the ac-
cident that would.gve the public correct
idea of the condition of tn n! IS. At the time
of the accident ana ever since the thermolnc-
ter has registered from to degrees below
zero. The suffering from cold was intense.
There are but two or three farm houses within
two miles of the wreck and these are filled
with the wounded. Others are scattered
OF communication except by train. All the
and all possible is being done
for the wounded and dead. The
owing to the severity of the weather, but was
resumed this morning. The water in the
White river, at the place of the accident, Is
not more than hve or six feet deep with but
little current, and the ice is perhaps fourteen
inches thick. The falling of the cars upon
it and the heat of the fire melted the ice
clear but little of the personal effects
of the passengers being left to
hn nt hnt
Charles NJ. Pierce, OF this place, engineer of
the wrecked train, is about thlrty-eight years
of age. He has been employed on the road
as engineer for fourteen years and is con
sldered one of the companyS faithful EN-
ployes. All accounts agree with his state
lncnt that although The train was an hour
late and, had been running perhaps
thirty miles an hour, yet at the time
an hour, as is the usual custom when eros.
sing long bridges. No blame whatever is
attached to him, and after the accident both
he and Fireman Tnresher of St. Adams,
rendered heroic and efficient aid in rescuing
the passengers Mr.. Pirce proceeded to ST.
Albans with his engine and the rest of the
train after all had been done that could be,
and plenty of help had arrived. He is now
at st. Albans in an exhausted condition
Mr.. Henry w, Tewksbury, of West Ran
dolph, VT, lecturer states that he was in
the first day coach. Tewksbury, who. was
doing at the time of the accident, and found
himself pinned fast by a portion of the car,
gave himself up for lost, lie seized his fur
cap and wound it around his face so as to
cover his eyes, and hide the dreadful view of
approaching death. AT this time the railroad
bridge above him was one mass of
fire and the heavy burning timbers were
falling all about him. Having leaned
back resignedly to meet what seemed his
fearful fate, his hopes of life were renewed
by hearing voices. lie unwound his fur cap
and saw the engineer and fireman close at
hand. lie called to them frantically for as
slstance, which they proifered at
sought to pull him out, but failed.
Thinking he was hopeless case
they were about to leave him and dhelp others,
but he begged them to try again and to break
aged to ret him out breaking leg and an
arm in the effort lhe flames We're soon so
close upon Mr.. Tewksbury that his clothing
was burned from his body.